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Grinnell is a unique place. It’s one of the only colleges I know of where someone can play football and be involved in theatre at the same time. One of the things that makes this possible is the amazing

teaching staff at Grinnell. Professors are not only knowledgeable and respectful, they’re approachable too. They go out of their way to get to know students on a personal level. They care about your educational development, and they care about your development as a person as well.

I recently had an experience that illustrated to me just how true this is. I work at the local video store in town, and the other day my physics professor from first year came up to the counter to rent a few movies. I hadn’t seen this professor in about three years. I had also shaved off all my facial hair and lost 50 pounds since I had taken that physics course, so I was looking a little different than when he knew me.

He barely hesitated. “Malcolm, right?”

“Yeah, I had you for physics my first year.” “And you’re a ... senior now? Are you still doing theatre?” I was shocked that he remembered that small detail about me. But I guess I shouldn’t have been.